Microsoft's "I'm a PC" Ad Airs

[ryanw]

It didn't blatantly attack it's competition. It just painted a different picture. For that it does it's job well.

Well, it did paint a different picture! I've always wondered... but now I know, it's the PC users that are at arms with the law putting graffiti on the walls and catching fish. I've always known the mac users to be designers, professional studios, photographers, movie directors, etc.... Glad to see this picture more clearly now.. thanks microsoft! You're spending your mega-million-dollar campaign extremely well!

Honestly, I could have gone around with my friends for a few thousand bucks and made a better campaign for them. And we all use macs..

 

[NATO]

I thought the Jerry Seinfeld ads were absolutely woeful, the new ad isn't BAD, it's just mind numbingly boring. Plus they seem to miss the point entirely that 'PC' in the Apple ads represents PCs themselves, not PC users.

The Apple ads (to me at least) are funny. I still chuckle when I watch them, and you can really like both the PC and Mac characters.

 

[termite]

M: Hello, I'm a Mac
P: And I'm a PC
M: What's wrong PC? You're looking kind of down
P: It's my users Mac, some of them are having issues
M: Ouch. More trouble with Vista?
P: No, psychiatric issues. They think they're PCs.
M: You mean, they think they use PCs, right?
P: No Mac. They really think they're PCs. The other day Eva Longoria tried to plug her new USB printer into her ear.
M: Whoa! That sounds uh, bad. Maybe some counseling?
P: No thanks
M: Well if there's anything I can do for you..
P: Wanna hang out at a real person's house?
Grandma in background: You're in my seat funnyman!

 

[ajhill]

I'm a PC... and I'm a mindless sheep!

I'm a PC and I'm a mindless sheep. I don't mind sending even more of my money to a monopoly run by the richest man in the world.

This Ad is even worse than the others.

The rest of the sheep in this world have been whining about the evil oil companies and how they are making "windfall profits". Well, Exxon Mobil makes a profit of 10 cents out of every dollar they take in as revenue. Microsoft profits 30 cents out of every dollar they take in. Which is a windfall profit? Exxon Mobile does not own 90 percent of the market, MS does.

Just be glad that Apple is now pushing 10% marketshare. We can only hope that we are nearing a tipping point and Microsoft will soon become irrelevent in the not too distant future. Looking at their advertising, it's clear that the end is near for MS.

Al

 

[Howmanoid]

Good grief

You know... This is worse than I thought. Not only are MSFT pissing away any brand identity that they might have had with Windows but they are actually telling Apple's story.

If I was the sweaty one in Redmond I'd be firing marketing people right now. This is ridiculous! Do they really think they can coopt Apple's "I'm a Mac" campaign with this lame ****? Apple talks about issues that PC users have to struggle with every day. This copy-cat nonsense just tries to justify itself by saying "I'm a PC" as if that's something that "real people" really want to aspire to. My God have they missed the point!!!!

"I'm a PC and I wish I was a Mac".............

 

[.Chris]

A few hours later ... I still think that is the best ad I've seen from Microsoft in a long time, but I think it's misguided.

I was watching it, and my son (12 years old, very computer aware, as an OSX and Ubuntu user, by way of his dad, not by personal choice) asked "Why are you watching another Apple ad, haven't you seen them all?"

I slyly told him this was a new one, and twisted the laptop to let him see. It didn't work out as I expected ... we were 3/4 of the way through be he realized it wasn't an Apple ad -- he's so used to "I'm a PC" coming from Apple.

Your kid need to know theres more to life then just what he "sees"

 

[hierobryan]

noooooo.... pharrell?

is it safe to assume these people are not mac fans?

Nooooo....it's the money. Give me enough money and I'll be a fan of anything, too.

 

[arjen92]

Not nearly as lame as Apple's stupid "I'm a PC" commercials. At least Microsoft didn't blatantly attack Apple like Apple does to Microsoft.

People want to have answers why they should take mac instead of windows. It becomes clear through the videos.

All windows can say is, I'm a pc. So what. I don't get the point of the commercial. They don't say why it's better. You need to be smart to know what they want you to tell. Cause apple can do the same and go everywhere and everyone's says: I'm a mac. A little bit useless I think.

 

[Peace]

People want to have answers why they should take mac instead of windows. It becomes clear through the videos.

All windows can say is, I'm a pc. So what. I don't get the point of the commercial. They don't say why it's better. You need to be smart to know what they want you to tell. Cause apple can do the same and go everywhere and everyone's says: I'm a mac. A little bit useless I think.

The point of the commercial.

Microsoft is saying Apple implies the typical PC user is a nerdy,chubby semi-idiot. So they do a commercial showing that the typical PC user is an average person.

Get it yet ?

 

[arjen92]

The ads seems good. They are sending the message that Apple was personally attacking people even though the PC guy was to portray the functions of Windows and not the people who use it. That may actually be a good strategy, so when people watch the Mac ads they may now think they are personally being attacked. Next ad they'll probably call Mac users elitists.

Sadly though, the Mac ads while being funny actually tell you about the product. Like the Seinfeld ads, Microsoft is choosing to appeal to people by connection through personal identity. Sort of reminds me another type of ad wars going on right now in US politics...

Man, you're so right. You say everything I think but can't express (also because english isn't my native language).

 

[jodelli]

Wow, a Windows fan boy.

Please go to Dell.com and configure a desktop with ALL the features in a comparable Mac and you won't find it cheaper.

What is this Mac fanboi obsession with Dell?
The danger in that direction lies not oh grasshopper.

 

[arjen92]

The point of the commercial.

Microsoft is saying Apple implies the typical PC user is a nerdy,chubby semi-idiot. So they do a commercial showing that the typical PC user is an average person.

Get it yet ?

Yes I get it, but apple is representing the computers, and microsoft the people. So there's a difference. Admit, if you would get the most common computer (and not your hyper pimped nasa computer) and would make it a person, wouldn't it be a very boring person, very neat and officious.

 

[9822737]

Well I liked it, good response. Looking forward to the next set of Mac ads now, IF Apple decide to repsond.

AnDy

 

[arjen92]

Microsoft outsells Apple 30 to one in the OS business. But they brought a product to market that was so flawed that their customers rejected it. With seven years of development by the world's preeminent software company Vista failed to deliver on the promise to be an innovative, secure, more productive and stable replacement for XP.

Now Apple has made a business out of pointing out all of Vista's flaws. It advances Apples Macintosh business some, but it really rubs Microsoft's nose in it.

It's not the customer's fault for failing to "get it", and it's not Apple's fault for pointing to Vista's problems. Microsoft's should focus on creating a better product, not on an expensive ad campaign.

true

 

[originalcliche]

Ohhhh "Windows : Life Without Walls" !

At first I'm like ZING! Against Apple... cuz i was thinking pc's are so much more expanadable and customizable and thats what they were getting at with that statement ... but then I realized no no they were talking about windows being without walls letting every known virus and driver instability known to man through the flood gates...

 

[Peace]

Yes I get it, but apple is representing the computers, and microsoft the people. So there's a difference. Admit, if you would get the most common computer (and not your hyper pimped nasa computer) and would make it a person, wouldn't it be a very boring person, very neat and officious.

That's a misnomer. Apple is not representing the computers in their ads. They are directly comparing the "Mac experience" to what they believe to be the typical PC experience while portraying the Windows user as a stiff tie wearing dummy. It is a personal thing. Something Microsoft saw and responded to.

 

[arjen92]

Well I liked it, good response. Looking forward to the next set of Mac ads now, IF Apple decide to repsond.

AnDy

I don't think apple should (in my opinion) response. It's kind of childish. If I were them I'd just ignore them and make a spectaculair commercial which attrects people. Not because it's a response to microsoft but just because it's a good commercial. With that you can get people, not by being responsing on someone's commercial.

 

[Agathon]

That's a misnomer. Apple is not representing the computers in their ads. They are directly comparing the "Mac experience" to what they believe to be the typical PC experience while portraying the Windows user as a stiff tie wearing dummy. It is a personal thing. Something Microsoft saw and responded to.

No they aren't. This is a complete misreading. It's a product comparison via personalization. Apple is making fun of MS, Dell, et al. Not the users.

 

[jodelli]

For some reason I have a feeling that NASA doesn't use Windows to power anything terribly important.

"Apple Mac OS X
Software License Agreement

C. Except as and only to the extent expressly permitted in this License or by applicable law, you may not copy, decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, or create derivative works of the Apple Software or any part thereof."
Caps are Apple's: "THE APPLE SOFTWARE IS NOT INTENDED FOR USE IN THE OPERATION OF NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION OR COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES OR OTHER EQUIPMENT IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE APPLE SOFTWARE COULD LEAD TO DEATH, PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE."

Yep, I think NASA might have a problem with this.

 

[n8236]

That wasn't a half bad commercial, I actually like it

 

[cal6n]

"... and this is my office!"

So, let me get this right.

Microsoft's idea to rehabilitate their platform with "ordinary people" consists of highlighting a few exciting work environments and pointing out just how boring the average office really is.

Well, I'm convinced. Give me a copy of Vista so I can go swimming with a munter...

 

[shaunomacx]

You know with all these people its strange to see one real Microsofter missing and thats Mr Xbox LIVE Major Nelson. See old Larry was looking for help with his Macbook (!) trying to dual boot Vista and ran into problems with his 'guest OS'.

You can take a man out of the Apple but you cant take Apple out of the Man.

Anyway this ad is a much better improvement on that last P.O.S and shoes

 

[henrymonroe]

That's a misnomer. Apple is not representing the computers in their ads. They are directly comparing the "Mac experience" to what they believe to be the typical PC experience while portraying the Windows user as a stiff tie wearing dummy. It is a personal thing. Something Microsoft saw and responded to.

+1000000000000000000000000

I can't believe people are completely overlooking this fact like mindless drones. If Apple is specifically showcasing the product differences and not the people, why does the PC wear glasses and a tie and look like an older dork, while the Mac looks like a "hip" and "cool" dude?

Apple is turning you all into mindless thoughtless zombies (not to mention zealots). Sad.

I'm a Mac user (music production), but I can think for myself, and realize Apple's ads are at their core just branding adverts masked as product ads (most of the Mac "advantages" and PC "flaws" they gloat about are largely inacurate or great exaggerations anyway), to make people relate Apple with "coolness." Microsoft is just hitting back with a portrayal of "real" people who use PCs. The whole thing has NOTHING to do with the products, but of course, so many of you play into Apple's tactics because you too want to be perceived as part of the "cool" and "different" gang. Such easy prey...

 

[flottenheimer]

The most interesting thing about all this, will be Apples reaction.
Will they ignore it and continue as if nothing has happened? Or will they ditch their "I'm a"-campaign (which is kinda tired anyway)?

Could someone from the US please tell me how powerful the rollout of the MS campaign is? Is it airing all the time on a lot of stations or is it rather rare? How many times did you watch it today (on TV)?
(I live in Denmark, and we've never seen a single Apple ad on TV in this part of the world).

- - -

Meanwhile have fun watching this MS Surface parody:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZrr7AZ9nCY

 

[inkswamp]

1. It's not painful to watch like the Seinfeld ads.

2. It tries to pull off the reality vibe but has this weird corporate shellac on it where it feels like they're trying too hard to "be real."

3. Not really an effective rebuttal to Apple's ads IMO. Yeah, so there are people who use PCs. Tell us something we don't know. Tell us whether they're all using Vista or not.

4. Still amazed that MS actually thinks it's a good idea to make a visual reference to Apple's ads (i.e., bordering on copying Apple, not really a message MS wants to get too close to in an ad.)

5. The music is annoying.